Mysticism’s emphasis on consciousness and its resulting awareness brings together metaphysics and spirituality. Consciousness adheres to, and reflects the principles of existence, and awareness informs us of the type of consciousness operating in the mind at any given time. By monitoring changes in one’s awareness, we are able to determine one’s spiritual development and functioning; strictly speaking, one’s spiritual emergence. This of course requires an original constant to which one can make reference, and from which one recognizes deviations. And it is this constant that is provided by the nature of existence. It inherently organizes all material forms, and all types of consciousness/awareness.

We all see the entropy aspect of reality, and can accept it as obvious and natural. Things become disorganized, deteriorate and degrade. Livings organisms die. But, even when recognizing its companion principle, organization, the temptation is to declare it is created solely by humankind, and not a natural phenomenon. But it is. And for the mystic, nowhere is that more important than with the information in the human mind. We see it in the way consciousness reaches a threshold, and then transcends its present composition and quality. It transforms into one that is a combination of the old and the new. But not in the mathematical way that “one plus one equals two”. But, as a gestalt, the whole being greater than the sum of its parts; “one plus one equals at least three”. The result is ever more complex and larger structures. Each one a particular collection of qualities and abilities with its own unique organization. Ones that now distinguish themselves from one another, and can be said to have their own agency and identity, their own willful intention and character, respectively. It does what it does, it is what it is, you are what you are.

In mystic practice we observe this change of organization in the mind as it progresses across the categories of awareness, from material awareness to  superlative awareness (See “Five Categories of Awareness”, https://oneperfectom.com/2021/07/12/five-categories-of-awareness/ ). A transformational process operating from holonomic principles, commonly referred to as spiritual emergence. Not only does the quality of awareness naturally improve, but with the help of human imagination and science, a wide range of agency is propagated. And corresponding identities range from individual selves to transpersonal selves to deities, and more. Through mystic practice, the original agency and individual identity one has been born to, while remaining intact, is absorbed into ever more transpersonal actions and structures (See “Higher Consciousness in Six Hundred Forty Words”, https://oneperfectom.com/2021/07/19/higher-consciousness-in-six-hundred-forty-words/). 

From the mystic perspective, these ever emerging forms of agency justify being labeled “higher” because awareness is exhibiting more of the “second-to-none” qualities of omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence. Displayed in human awareness as wisdom, power, and love, respectively, they are considered more pure or higher the more they approximate perfection or what many call divinity. (See “Benefits of Raising Consciousness”, https://oneperfectom.com/2020/10/09/benefits-of-raising-consciousness/ ). Obviously,  different religions and spiritual traditions label these agencies using terms from their own theology. But, because of the inherent organizational nature of consciousness/awareness, important common themes can be discerned. And, the contemporary mystic perspective offers a means to delineate these shared beliefs. 

With its emphasis on psycho-spiritual transformation, mysticism provides terms that represent both agency and identity while reflecting the complete range of consciousness/awareness. They are : human mind (conditioned), human mind (mythological), human spirit, deity, source, and spirit. The “Mystic Awareness” table below summarizes the relationship between these types of agency and consciousness/awareness. Some identifying information is also included from the “Consciousness” table from the essay, “Higher Consciousness in Six Hundred Forty Words” ( https://oneperfectom.com/2021/07/19/higher-consciousness-in-six-hundred-forty-words/ ) One is encouraged to look over the table as a means of reviewing the material presented in the essays; paying particular attention to agency and its relation to awareness category and awareness type.

Mystic Awareness

Awareness Category	Awareness Type	Consciousness Information	Defining Element Of Experience	Agency
Material- Concrete	Self-Awareness	Ordinary	Individuality/ Independence	Human Mind-Conditioned
Material- Imaginative	Existential Awareness	Integral	Meaning	Human Mind-Mythological
Transcendent	Subtle Awareness	Psychic	Psychic Phenomena	Human spirit
Transpersonal	Unitive Awareness	Unity	Oneness	Deity
Mysterious	Unmanifested Awareness	Formless	No-Mind	Source
Superlative	Non-Dual Awareness	Form-Formless	Being	Spirit

Mystic Agency (Part 2)